The Idea
Having to figure what it is exactly I would like to do for the story of my short film, a total of three ideas were gathered. Jotting them down to help gather my initial thoughts on each of them, it didn't take long before one was decided on.
Research
Going for the "first female serial killer" storyline, more research was needed. This time focusing on the historic figure alone as she is who I will be focusing on.
Going between websites, it did take a lot doing my best to try and find the most accurate information. And whether the information I have gathered is all false or even half, I can only go off of what is said and shared about her.
With four pages full of information, I needed to pin point the change of events. For that, a timeline was created noting the birth of her, her siblings and her children, the dates she was married, the death of her husbands and children, everything important running up to the day of her death sentence.
It did become difficult trying to find exact dates for every situation, but a year was given for every move with an additional month added only where I was sure of the date.
Having this now, it will help knowing what happened when more accurately rather than going back and forth on the first research document.
Before finishing off, another important factor had came to mind to look into. The Victorian era. Aiming to be story accurate, that also includes being historically accurate. Hence where this document comes in:
With so much to uncover, I made sure to go through as many topics as I could, going as far as to discuss the superstitions of the time, fads, fashion preferences, living situations, courting, alongside plenty more.
Story Planning
Getting together what I will be needing, all of the requirements for this project that I could think of were noted down in the embedded document going through the equipment I will be needing, budgets, and the possible characters that will be in need of casting.
Another thing I probably should have mentioned includes people who will be working with me. Helping out with the set ups for example. Not having anyone at the moment, I will be asking it of a friend who had studied business to help me with the business knowledge that will be needed for the court related scenes at least.
Thinking about it though, with the short film being my initial idea which I myself am not 100% certain in getting it where I am wanting it, a backup product is in mind which is to go ahead and create a documentary on the life of Mary Ann Cotton. Mainly thinking about the amount that will have to be put into the filming of the Victorian short as there isn't really anything that I can put towards it, causing a production issue already.
Considering the shooting locations and having them link with Mary Ann Cotton who had moved around a lot, a PowerPoint had been put together noting the timeline of her living arrangements. That way, when it comes to filming I could have at least one or two areas that are accurate to her story.
Update
Coming up with bits I should have thought of earlier, a document has been put together revealing any new form of task going into the production of this short film.
Going in more depth with the book bought for this project, a secondary research document on Mary Ann Cotton has been produced. Reading every page, notes were made sharing information I hadn't come across before.
With chapters dedicated to certain aspects of Mary Ann Cotton's life, it would have taken up a lot more time adding everything in fully detailed, especially since I had already done that technically. So instead, pointers were created for each new interesting fact I was able to come across.
About the mentioned fundraiser now, a journal had been written up documenting the whole thought process from setting the fundraiser up to where it ended up going.
Final note; bringing up the email sent to the Durham Crown Court, after six days of waiting, they did eventually get back to me.
Unfortunately, they weren't able to help me out. But I believe I have everything I need so it isn't a loss really. I also found that the author of the book about the murderer had got in contact with the Crown Courts himself, and was given the information on her. Then with that information of course, was discussed in the book. So in a way, I have already read what potentially could have been sent over to me if my attempt in contacting the Court had ended in success.
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